Freddie King’s second album for Shelter Records, Texas Cannonball, which followed his also Getting Ready (1971). Released in 1972, Texas Cannonball was one of the highlights of King’s career, which continued its progression towards a new style, introducing its explosive blues sound to wider audiences on both sides of theAtlantic. Leon Russell’s Shelter Records was without a doubt the perfect springboard for Freddie’s hard driving style of blues. This prolific collaboration definitely put Freddie into the mainstream of the white blues/rock explosion. The album includes brilliant covers of songs by Howlin’ Wolf, Lowell Fulson, Leon Russell, Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers and Elmore James. Among the backing musicians are many names who played with Eric Clapton in the 1970s (Clapton stated many times that Freddie King was among his chiefinfluences). The personnel includes Leon Russell on piano,Carl Radle and Donald “Duck” Dunn (from Booker T & The MG´s)on bass, Jim Gordon, Chuck Blackwell and Al Jackson on drums, Don Preston on guitar, and John Gallie on organ.